--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The male glance has often been described…" description: "\"“The male glance has often been described. It is commonly said to rest coldly on a woman, measuring, weighing, evaluating, selecting her--in other word..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/milan-kundera-120_evil-eye_the-male-glance-has-often-been-described_2843778.jpg" --- # The male glance has often been described. It is commonly… ![“The male glance has often been described. It is commonly said to rest coldly on a woman, measuring, weighing, evaluating, selecting her--in other words, turning her into an object. What is less commonly known is that a woman is not completely defenseless against that glance. If it turns her into…” quote by Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/milan-kundera-120_evil-eye_the-male-glance-has-often-been-described_2843778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/milan-kundera-120_evil-eye_the-male-glance-has-often-been-described_2843778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/milan-kundera-120_evil-eye_the-male-glance-has-often-been-described_2843778.jpg) > ““The male glance has often been described. It is commonly said to rest coldly on a woman, measuring, weighing, evaluating, selecting her--in other words, turning her into an object. What is less commonly known is that a woman is not completely defenseless against that glance. If it turns her into an object, then she looks back at the man with the eyes of an object. It is though a hammer had suddenly grown eyes and stare up at the worker pounding a nail with it. When the worker sees the evil eye of the hammer, he loses his self-assurance and slams it on his thumb. The worker may be the hammer’s master, but the hammer still prevails. A tool knows exactly how it is meant to be handled, while the user of the tool can only have an approximate idea.”” [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage suggests that while a man's gaze objectifies a woman, she can retaliate by objectifying him, turning the power dynamic into a mutual tool-user relationship where both are constrained by their roles. **In simple terms:** Both genders can objectify each other, creating a power stalemate. Key Takeaway Beware of reducing people to objects; seek mutual respect. Themes gender power objectification relationships identity Mood critical thought‑provoking philosophical Type reflective analytical When to use this quote - interpersonal relationships - social critique - psychological insight Key Concepts objectification power dynamics mutual perception tool metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to see someone as a tool? - How can we move beyond objectification? A Different Perspective Objectification can be a two‑way street, limiting authentic connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evil eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-eye/) [Eye Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-hammer-3742618/) [Eyes Object](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-object-3742621/) [Eyes Stare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-stare-3295476/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hammer/) [Male Glance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/male-glance-3742619/) [Male-gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/male-gaze-116705/) ## Related quotes > [“He looks me to pieces … I realize now that I have been glimpsed and corner-of-the-eyed before, by the Chief and my sister and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/he-looks-me-to-pieces-i-realize-now-that-i-have-been-glimpsed-and/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [ “\[E\]ven today, when confident and self-affirmative lesbian identities have emerged and are available to women, images of 'lesbianism’ are still regularly appropriated by a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nivedita-menon/e-ven-today-when-confident-and-self-affirmative-lesbian-identities/) [Nivedita Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nivedita-menon/) > [Close your eyes and stare into the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/close-your-eyes-and-stare-into-the-dark/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. 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If it turns her into an object, then she looks back at the man with the eyes of an object. It is though a hammer had suddenly grown eyes and stare up at the worker pounding a nail with it. When the worker sees the evil eye of the hammer, he loses his self-assurance and slams it on his thumb. The worker may be the hammer’s master, but the hammer still prevails. 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